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Jamyang Education Foundation for Buddhist Women

Teaching Intern

Duration: 2 months during the summer (does not include travel time)Location: Indian Himalayas. Interns will live in either Spiti (Himachal Pradesh) or Kinnaur (Himachal Pradesh).Housing: Students will live in a Tibetan Buddhist nunnery. Bathroom facilities are very basic. There is no room heating. Simple vegetarian meals are provided.Qualifications: Interns must be self-starters, highly energetic, with excellent people skills, and a keen interest in Tibetan Buddhist culture.Funding: Available through the McCulloch Center; see link to application instructions below.Budget: Room and Board: $1,200 Travel Allowance: $1,800 (includes expenses for Jamyang staff traveling from New Dehli to internship site) Total: $3,000

Jamyang Foundation is an innovative education project for Himalayan women. The Foundation's key concerns are to provide education for Tibetan Buddhist women and prepare them to serve as teachers, community leaders, and role models for women in their communities. Interns are needed to teach the nuns a variety of subjects including English, Hindi, math, social studies, computers, environmental awareness, and healthcare. Please indicate on your application which subjects you are interested in teaching.

Interns will design their own classes upon arrival. English, math, and social studies books from the Oxford University series are available on site, but interns may wish to bring additional books with them. Classes are generally held six days a week, with a holiday on Sundays. Interns will teach two to four classes per day, starting in the morning and lasting until about 5 pm, with breaks for meals and tea.

The Himalayan regions of Spiti, Kinnaur, and Zangskar are remote and tranquil. The main activities of the people are agriculture, handicrafts, and Buddhist practice. Interns will have the opportunity to participate in Buddhist pujas (religious services), meet learned lamas (religious teachers), befriend local villagers, learn snippets of many languages, and many other things. Teaching gives interns a glimpse of Himalayan life, well off the beaten tourist trail, and an opportunity to make a valuable contribution to needy communities.

Interns should be prepared for rustic living conditions. Staying in a nunnery may feel a lot like camping, since you will have to forgo many of the comforts of home. It is important that interns have a positive attitude about inconveniences and simple living.

To apply, read the application guidelines and submit the Universal Application Form by February 24, 2012 at 5 pm. All applicants MUST meet with Jale Okay, Director of International Experiential Learning, by February 17, 2012 for a pre-application meeting. Please call the McCulloch Center at x2072 to schedule an appointment.